Shirt with Removable Cape and Hood, With or Without Mask

ABSTRACT

A costume component is disclosed comprising a T-shirt, a cape component, a hood component, and, in one embodiment, a mask component. The mask component is securable to the hood component. Preferably the hood and the cape components are integral so as to be placeable upon and removable from the T-shirt. A conventional garment securement means is used to releasably attach the cape component (secured to the hood component) to the rear shoulders of the T-shirt for ease of placement and removal by the user. The securement means is preferably a set of buttons and buttonholes, male and female snap components, hook and loop Velcro-like fasteners, or other common garment attachment means, and allows a user to wear the costume component without the need for a full body or upper torso component which is often too bulky or warm.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an article of wearing apparel, preferably a simple T-shirt with a backwardly extending (from the neck) attachable and detachable cape and a sparate, selectively attachable over the head hood. The cape and hood are adapted to be removably connected to the shirt to also allow the shirt to be worn by itself with or without the cape and hood. The present invention also comprises a partial face-covering mask adapted to be selectively connected to the hood. The shirt with cape, hood and mask presents a novel article of wearing apparel. With the mask selectively secured, the shirt, cape and hood presents a highly desirable article of disguise, for Halloween, a costume or masquerade party. Even without the mask, the shirt with cape and/or hood is highly desirous by children seeking to emulate superhero action figures.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND DISCLOSURE

Many children wear costumes and even partial costumes to play “make believe” and to emulate superhero action figures. Children and adults also wear upper torso-covering apparel with capes and hoods, again, to play “pretend” on Halloween or for other parties and occasions. Yet, some costumes are bulky and often children desire to wear a simple shirt-like covering primarily comprising a shirt. Securing a cape and a mask to the shirt provides the “disguise” to the child in a novel, safe and clever manner. Accordingly, many children do not wish to wear an entire body-covering costume which comprises a full body or upper body article of clothing which is worn over a shirt. That can be too heavy and physically constraining. However, without a full upper body-covering costume, the visual effect can be lost. Thus, the present invention relates to a simple shirt which can be worn which is provided with a selectively securable cape and hood which can be provided, selectively, too, with a face mask. Yet, traditionally, wearing a cape as a component of a child's costume often requires that a string be tied around the child's neck to secure the same. That, however, has serious safety issues. The string can get caught in a wheel of a bicycle; can get wrapped into a circulating fan, can be pulled by a bully, etc. Nevertheless, capes, extending rearwardly from the neck of a child are desirous so that the child can emulate a “superhero” action figure as they generally wear colorful and distinctive capes. Additionally, children often wear masks or hoods to conceal their identity during a costume party oar when playing “make believe.” Here, again, the mask and/or hood has a function of disguise and of also allowing the child to emulate the superhero action figure as superheroes have, traditionally, tried to disguise their true persona or identity when not in their costume and that can only be done if the superhero wears a mask or concealing hood when performing their super deeds. So, an article of wearing apparel for a child comprising a simple shirt and an attachable and simple detachable cape and hood with a selectively usable mask, too, is highly desirous. Hoods have, however, not generally been used nor provided with mere light weight shirts, rather, a hood generally is associated with a sweatshirt or jacket. That, however, can be too warm for simple house play, and a fully separate mask (i.e., non integrated mask) can be easily lost or misplaced.

Thus, it is desired to have a costume comprised of a light weight T-shirt, wherein a cape and hood and mask can be selectively attached and securely directly to (and removed from) the shirt so that a child user can wear a costume without requiring a full body or even a heavy, over a shirt upper body article of masquerade/disguise. To provide such a simple article of clothing with an attachable cape and hood, and a face-covering mask, without requiring the use of a jacket or sweatshirt, and without also requiring a full upper torso covering costume, is desirable.

The present invention thus discloses a shirt (such as a T- shirt) which is adapted to have a cape and hood costume component attached thereto. Preferably, the cape and hood are attached to one another, and a face-covering mask component can also be connected thereto. The cape, hood and mask components, all secured together, are adapted to releasably and yet securely connect to the shirt by means of some inter-operable securing mechanism, such as a button and buttonhole, snapping components, loops and hooks (Velcro) , or other similar and functional attaching and detaching mechanisms for clothing articles.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART

To the Applicant's knowledge, no prior art exists which presents a costume component comprising a simple shirt like T-shirt, with an attachable and detachable cape and hood and a face mask (full or partial face covering) which is adapted to connect to and be detachable from the shirt and which does not otherwise present the bulk of a body portion component for a costume. It is thus desirable to have a costume which comprises only a cape and hood component (and potentially a mask) which secure to and can be removed from a simple T-shirt, so that a user, likely a child on Halloween or at a costume party, can feel that he or she has put on a costume and concealed his or her identity while emulating a super hero, the device not requiring the user to wear a full body or upper torso costume which is often hot and/or bulky.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a costume component comprising a shirt, a cape component, a hood component, and, in one embodiment, a mask component. The mask component is securable to and removable from the hood component, which in turn is securable to and removale from the cape component which, in turn, may be securable to and removable from the shirt. All components are preferably sewn together to integrate and maintain the embodiment of the invention. A securement means is presented to releasably attach the cape component to the shirt for ease of wearing by the user. The securement means is preferably a button and buttonhole, snap components (male and female members), loop and hooks of a Velcro-like securing mechanism, or other common garment attaching mechanisms, and allows a user to wear the costume component without the need for a full body or heavy and bulky upper torso component. The securement mechanism also allows a user to wear the cape component and secure the same extending rearwardly from the neck on his or her back without the need to use a string to tie the same around his or her neck, allows a user to wear a mask component (full or partial face covering) without the risk of losing the same when removed, and allows a user to wear a hood component without the need for the bulk and weight of a sweatshirt or jacket.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the present invention, a T-shirt with removable cape extending rearwardly from the back of the collar, with a hood and integrated half-face covering mask;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the present invention shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the invention shown in FIGS. 1-4 according to the present invention and showing the individual components; and

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of an alternate embodiment of the invention wherein the face mask, a separate component, with eye holes is easily separable from the hood, as described.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS AND THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Description will now be given of the invention with reference to the attached FIGS. 1-6. It should be understood that these figures are exemplary in nature and in no way serve to limit the scope of the invention as the invention will be defined by the claims, as interpreted by the Courts in an issued US Patent.

FIGS. 1-5 and 6 are views of the two embodiments of the present inventive costume component 10 comprising a simple T-shirt 30 with an attachable and removable hood and cape. The shirt is quite ordinary, preferably made from cotton and comprises a body 13, a pair of short sleeves 15 and 17, and a neckline 19. As can be seen in the Figures, the present invention discloses a rearwardly extending cape component 12 and an over-the-head hood component 14 which are, collectively, adapted to be releasably and yet securely attachable to a shirt 30 to be comfortably worn by a user. One embodiment, shown in FIG. 1, also discloses the use of a mask component 16 which is integrally connected to the inside, frontal and side edges of the hood component 14. In another embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the mask component is shown as a removable and securable face mask 21.

Hood component 14 and cape component 12 are preferably secured to one another along a rear seam 18 extending around the rear of the collar or neckline 19 or, as seen in FIG. 5, the hood and cape can be made of a single thickness of fabric material. Preferably, the seam 18 is simple stitching, so as to form a single or integrated hood and cape costume component. In the first embodiment, a mask component 16 is shown, too, secured to the inside of the hood 14. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the mask component 21 is removably yet attachable to the inside of the hood. In another embodiment, the face mask is separate from the hood and is held onto the wearer's face by a simple elastic string extending behind the head.

In the embodiment wherein the face mask is securable to the hood, a set of mating connection means (buttons and buttonholes; male and female snap components, hooks and loops of a Velcro-like connector) can be provided, as can also be used (See FIGS. 3-6) for securing the hood and cape to the rear of the shirt 12 and for the mask 16 to the inside and front of the hood 14. Alternatively, the mask component 16 can be integrated and formed with the hood component 14, also preferably by stitching, so as to prevent a user from losing a separate mask component upon removing it from his or her face, i.e., it can be attached to the hood. This provides the added benefit that a user does not have to carry and risk losing a mask when he or she wishes to remove it from their face, while also providing an easily accessible and available mask component 16 for when a user wishes to put on their costume and hide their identity.

The cape component 12 is adapted to releasably secured to a shirt 30 by means of a conventional securing mechanism 20, preferably mating means 20 a and 20 b (See FIG. 6) on the rear shoulders of the shirt and the outside and top edges 23 of the cape. Securing mechanism 20 can be a mating buttons and buttonholes, male and female snap components, a set of hooks and set of loops of a Velcro-like securing device, or any other securing mechanism known in the art. Thus, by merely wearing a shirt 30, a user can convert it to a costume with the cape component 12, hood component 14, and mask component 16 attached. As mentioned, the mask need not be an integral part of the hood but can be an optional, separable and selectively attachable item (See FIG. 6, element 21).

Thus, a costume component is provided without a full body component which often is bulky and too warm for a user to comfortably wear. Thus, the present invention presents the potential for a child to simulate a superhero by wearing a simple and comfortable T-shirt with a cape and hood secured thereto which, however, can be removed as desired. Also, a mask component can be integrated into the hood or separable therefrom to provide the costume with greater versatility. The present invention avoids use of a string to tie a cape around the wearer's neck, a clear improvement in safety. The present invention also avoids the need to wear a sweatshirt or jacket if the wearer also wants to wear a hood by providing a hood component 14 directly secured to and integral with the cape component 12. A hood is often desirable, along with a mask, when an individual wearing a costume wishes to conceal their identity. However, just as with a full body or upper torso costume piece, a sweatshirt or jacket can often be very warm, too bulky and undesirable for users attending a party or gathering which may take place indoors, and thus there is a need for a costume component with a cape and hood without the need for the same to be part of a sweatshirt or jacket. The present invention discloses a hood component 14 which is secured and integrated with the cape component 12 (by sewing) or can be separable, and possibly also includes an integrated or separable mask component 16 or 21, respectively. The components are attachable to the T-shirt and can be removed for allowing the T-shirt to be separately worn and/or for washing/cleaning

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational views of the embodiments of the present invention disclosed in the other FIGS. As can be seenin FIGS. 3 and 6, the securing mechanism 20 preferably comprises two attachment locations at opposed top edges of the rear shoulders of the T-shirt to releasably secure the cape component 12 (with the hood 14) to shirt 30. Securing mechanism 20 is preferably a set of corresponding mechanical elements, 20 a and 20 b, for buttons, snaps, hook and loops, or other common attachment means known in the garment art.

It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular feature or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims. 

What is claimed:
 1. A costume component comprising: a T-shirt; a cape component; a hood component, secured to and integrated with said cape component; a mask component, securable to said hood component yet selectively detachable; and, a securement means between said hood component and said cape component and said T-shirt.
 2. A costume component as claimed in claim 1, wherein said securement means is a coordinating set of buttons and buttonholes, male and female snap sections, hook and loop Velcro-like segments, or other known garment securement means.
 3. A costume component as claimed in claim 1, wherein said shirt lightweight cotton.
 4. A costume component as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cape component is secured to said hood component along a rear seam of the collar of the T-shirt.
 5. A costume component comprising: a T-shirt; a cape component; a hood component, secured to and integrated with said cape component; and a securement means for selectively allowing securement of said hood component and said cape component to said T-shirt so that said cape component extends rearwardly and downwardly from said shoulders of said T-shirt and, yet, said cape component and said hood component are removable from said T-shirt as a unit.
 6. A costume component as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a mask component, said mask component secured to the insider and front edges of said hood component.
 7. A costume component as claimed in claim 5, wherein said securement means is a set of mating buttons and buttonholes, male and female snaps, hook and loop Velcro-like elements, or other known garment securement means.
 8. A costume component as claimed in claim 5, wherein said T-shirt is a single ply cotton shirt.
 9. A costume component as claimed in claim 5, wherein said cape component and said hood component are secured to said T-shirt by one segment of said securement means being located on the upper and rear shoulders of said T-shirt.
 10. A costume component as claimed in claim 5 wherein said cape component and said hood component are seamed together along a line corresponding to the rear collar of the T-shirt. 